Chelsea season preview: Failure is not an option

Last Season

Favourites for the title, Chelsea had an odd season. Despite overcoming their fellow contenders including a masterclass against Manchester City and a ruthless 6-0 drubbing of Chelsea, they struggled against lesser sides and that is what cost them the title. Accused of playing boring football at times, as you would expect from Jose Mourinho, their atacking midfield played some great football, with Eden Hazard in unstoppable form. Captain John Terry enjoyed a resurgent season, leading from the back and formed an excellent partnership with Gary Cahill in the league's tightest defence. A rather easy draw saw them make it to the semi finals of the Champions League, where they were deservingly beaten  by a spectacular Atletico Madrid.

Ins and Outs

Jose Mourinho's men look like undeniable title favourites after ransacking Atletico Madrid; bringing in some much needed quality up front in the form of Brazilian- Spanish striker Diego Costa. A hole in the left back position has been filled with the signing of the excellent Felipe Luis from Atletico as well.

Cesc Fabregas' surprising signing makes their midfield one of the best in the world, with the former Arsenal skipper expected to partner the solid Nemanja Matic in midfield. 

Didier Drogba's signing also seems to be more about retaining some experience in the squad rather than an upgrade in forward positions, but Romelu Lukaku's place in the 11 looks less likely, with the striker expected to go out on loan once again and make Jose repent.

Thibaut Courtois' arrival has made an interesting subplot  pre season. Does Jose bench Petr Cech or worse, Iker Casillas him? Or will the clearly superior Courtois be left on the bench in favour of the more experienced Cech? Rotation seems to be an option, but one gets the feeling that one must leave for the other to thrive.

But undoubtedly the most brilliant piece of business from Chelsea's point of view was offloading the graceful, but utterly unreliable David Luiz to Paris Saint- Germain for 50 million pounds. While I fail to understand why PSG would bid so much for a man who spent much of last season either on the bench or out of position, clever little Jose Mourinho can now spend even more without having to worry about Financial Fair Play regulations. What a laugh must he have had had Luiz gone to Barcelona.

Strengths

Oof, where do I begin? Diego Costa is a massive upgrade over Fernando Torres, while Felipe Luis' arrival means that Cesar Azpilicueta can be shifted to his favoured right-back slot for the coming season. But where does that leave Branislav Ivanovic? Regardless, it can only be a good thing for the Blues, whose defence looks unstoppable with the arrival of Thibaut Courtois in goal.

Weaknesses

Complacency in thoroughly winnable matches cost Mourinho's men last season and with a new, albeit fantastic couple of players, it might take them a while to hit their stride. Mourinho's main problem will be turning those lost chances in to wins.

Key Players

A lot rides on Diego Costa, Didier Drogba and Romelu Lukaku to keep the pressure of scoring goals off Eden Hazard, who will score regardless. A lot rides on how Mourinho integrates Costa into his side, while Eden Hazard has the potential for a 20- goal season as well.

It's a big season for

Romelu Lukaku and Petr Cech. Do they seek moves elsewhere, or fight for a spot in the side? Both have quality and will be sorely missed if things go awry, especially in the case of Romelu Lukaku, who would've undoubtedly led the line for Chelsea last season. Petr Cech, though, will need to hope that Courtois suffers an uncharacteristic dip in form for him to be in reckoning for the number one spot.

Watch out for

Nemanja Matic. His arrival in January last season gave the side some much needed stability in the middle of the park, and his steel is the perfect foil for the more attack minded and creative Cesc Fabregas.

Prediction

They're squad screams world class through every position, and you'd be an idiot to count them out for the title. A Real- Chelsea Champions League final is also not a long shot, but failure will not be forgiven,by both the fans, and owner Roman Abramovich.

It might take more than a season for Van Gaal to undo last season's debacle at Manchester United.

It wasn't just the Dutch who rejoiced at the end of Holland's 5-1 trouncing of Spain. Louis van Gaal's Oranje side enthralled millions of Man United fans who watched in awe as a fit, confident Robin van Persie robbed Iker Casillas of the ball and casually sent it into the back of the net. The top scorer in their Premier League winning season was back to his lethal best, as if unaffected by his club's disastrous form this season. In the dugout, van Gaal celebrated, rising from his bar stool seat, celebrating- a sight many United fans will hope to see more often in the upcoming season. A sense of optimism, absent since the arrival of Juan Mata, filled Old Trafford.But it's a long road back into the Champion's League. Manchester City, United's noisy neighbours and successors to the Premier League crown were absolutely unplayable at times, decimating Arsenal and United among a host of others. 

As were Liverpool  and Chelsea, the latter seeming like potential Champions League contenders with the signing of Cesc Fabregas and the impending arrival of Brazil's favourite son, Diego Costa; while the Merseysiders, looking to mount a Champions League challenge, have been excellent in the transfer market so far- bolstering midfield and adding depth to their already formidable attack by signing the exciting Emre Can and the experienced Rickie Lambert. Adam Lallana and Alberto Moreno have also been continually linked with the Reds.

Arsenal endured an equally bad second half to the season- butchered by Liverpool, Chelsea and City, but the return of key players like Theo Walcott and the signing of a top centre forward like Mario Balotelli will bolster hopes of a season like the one they had until January at the Emirates.

Despite being linked with dozens of players including the entire Dutch national team over the summer, United have still not made a signing, with the finger of blame being pointed right at their bumbling Chief Executive, Ed Woodward. United desperately need at least two quality centre halves, a left back capable of taking over from Patrice Evra, at least one more winger and crucially, a top central midfield player.

However, new signings, no matter how good they may be individually, will not ensure success. Just look at how Tottenham Hotspur imploded last season. Van Gaal will face a monumental task to bring them together as a cohesive unit. 

The expectations from van Gaal are clear- anything less than a Champions League spot will be deemed catastrophic, and while he has proven himself to be a formidable leader, it could take more than a season to resurrect the fallen Red Devils.